Dive into the captivating world of Felix Mendelssohn with this comprehensive collection of his symphonies, overtures, and incidental music. Released on LSO Live in 2018, this album spans nearly four and a half hours and offers a deep exploration of Mendelssohn's genius, performed by the renowned London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Eliot Gardiner.
The album features Mendelssohn's complete symphonies, from his early Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11, to his final Symphony No. 5, Op. 107, also known as "The Reformation." Each symphony showcases Mendelssohn's unique ability to blend classical forms with innovative ideas, creating music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
In addition to the symphonies, the album includes several overtures, such as the dramatic "Overture to Ruy Blas" and the evocative "The Hebrides, Op. 26," also known as "Fingal's Cave." These pieces demonstrate Mendelssohn's mastery of orchestral writing and his talent for creating vivid musical landscapes.
The incidental music from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is another highlight of this collection. This suite of pieces, written to accompany Shakespeare's play, includes the famous "Wedding March" and showcases Mendelssohn's ability to capture the whimsical and magical atmosphere of the play.
This album is a treasure trove for both Mendelssohn enthusiasts and those new to his music. It offers a comprehensive overview of his symphonic and orchestral works, highlighting his unique voice and enduring influence on classical music. Whether you're looking to deepen your appreciation of Mendelssohn's music or simply enjoy a rich and varied collection of classical pieces, this album is sure to delight.
2018 London Symphony Orchestra Ltd2018 London Symphony Orchestra Ltd
Tracks
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: I. Allegro di moltoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: II. AndanteFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: III. Scherzo. Sempre pianissimo e leggiero (1829 London Version)Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: III. Menuetto. Allegro molto (1824 Original Version)Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 11: IV. Allegro con fuocoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": I. Sinfonia a) Maestoso con motoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": I. Sinfonia b) Allegretto un poco agitatoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": I. Sinfonia c) Adagio religiosoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": II. a) Allegro moderato maestoso "Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, The Monteverdi Choir
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": II. b) Molto più moderato ma con fuoco "Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Lucy Crowe, The Monteverdi Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": III. a) Recitativo "Saget es, die ihr erlöst seid durch den Herrn"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Spyres
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": III. b) Allegro moderato "Er zählet unsre Tränen"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Spyres
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": IV. Chor. A tempo moderato "Sagt es, die ihr erlöst seid"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, The Monteverdi Choir
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": V. Andante "Ich harrete des Herrn"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir, Jurgita Adamonyte, London Symphony Orchestra, Lucy Crowe
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": VI. Allegro un poco agitato "Stricke des Todes hatten uns umfangen"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Spyres
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": VII. Allegro maestoso e molto vivace "Die Nacht ist vergangen"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, The Monteverdi Choir
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": VIII. a) Choral. Andante con moto "Nun danket alle Gott"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, The Monteverdi Choir
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": VIII. b) Un poco più animato "Lob, Ehr und Preis sei Gott"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, The Monteverdi Choir
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": IX. Andante sostenuto assai "Drum sing' ich mit meinem Liede ewig dein Lob"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Michael Spyres, Lucy Crowe, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 "Lobgesang": X. Schlusschor. Allegro non troppo "Ihr Völker! bringet her dem Herrn"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Overture Ruy Blas, Op. 95: Overture Ruy Blas, Op. 95Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": I. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitatoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": II. Vivace non troppoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": III. AdagioFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish": IV. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assaiFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": I. Allegro vivaceFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": II. Andante con motoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": III. Menuetto. Con moto moderatoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian": IV. Finale (Saltarello). PrestoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Overture Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Op. 27Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": I. Andante - Allegro con fuocoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": II. Allegro vivaceFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": III. AndanteFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "The Reformation": IV. Choral "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott" (Andante con moto - Allegro vivace - Allegro maestoso)Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
The Hebrides, Op. 26 "Fingal's Cave"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op. 21: Allegro di moltoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
Overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op. 21: Tempo primoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: "Ay Me! For Aught That I Could Ever Read"Felix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Alexander Knox
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 1, ScherzoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Knox
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 2, L'istesso tempoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Ceri-lyn Cissone, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Knox
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 2a, Allegro vivaceFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Alexander Knox, Frankie Wakefield, London Symphony Orchestra
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 3, Lied mit ChorFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir, Ceri-lyn Cissone, London Symphony Orchestra
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 4, AndanteFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Ceri-lyn Cissone, London Symphony Orchestra, Frankie Wakefield
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 5, Allegro appassionatoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Ceri-lyn Cissone, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Knox
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 7, Nocturne. Con moto tranquilloFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 8, AndanteFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Ceri-lyn Cissone, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Knox, Frankie Wakefield
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 9, Hochzeitmarsch "Wedding March" - No. 12, Allegro vivace come primoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Knox
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61: Finale. Allegro di moltoFelix Mendelssohn, John Eliot Gardiner, Ceri-lyn Cissone, London Symphony Orchestra, The Monteverdi Choir, Alexander Knox, Frankie Wakefield